Tracking the Flash – the Fastest Man Alive

On the road to today’s release of Flash #7, the creative team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato has been making the interview rounds. Here’s a roundup of the past few days, covering their appearances in multiple outlets.

First up, Manapul stopped by iFanboy’s Word Balloon podcast to talk about his work on the title, include the nature of his collaboration with Buccellato. From the description:

Artist/writer Francis Manapul is back to tell us what’s been happening in the pages of The Flash for DC Comics. We talk about his unique art choices to display the hero’s super speed, and the Flash’s point of view when faced with the choices of how to stop a crime or disaster from happening.

More after the jump!

The other side of the Flash coin, Buccellato landed over at Comic Vine during WonderCon 2012 to talk about his creator-owned, self-published series Foster, as well as new Flash character Turbine. He also discusses the upcoming appearances of Gorilla Grodd, Weather Wizard and Heat Wave, and this team’s “stamp on the characters.” He reveals that he and Manapul have not decided if Barry will eventually end up with current girlfriend Patty Spivot, or Iris West, his wife from a previous reality. He does, however, state what his own choice would be, if he were Barry Allen.

Buccellato also spoke with eXpert comics’ The MiXXTapes Vol. 2, also at WonderCon. The focus there is more on Foster and his burgeoning career as a writer, and he had this to say about the impact that working on Flash has had on him professionally:

For me FLASH was just the opportunity to show the comic industry that I have something I can bring to the table creatively. FLASH afforded me the opportunity to write FOSTER ‘cus let’s face it before I wrote FLASH nobody would’ve bought FOSTER because they would’ve said, “Who’s this colorist who thinks he can write”. I mean, now I have a little bit of a track record that allows me the opportunity to leverage what little interest people have in me as a writer so it’s more about opportunity and not transition.

Be sure to check out the rest of the conversations at the links above, and don’t forget Flash #7 hits stores today!

It’s funny how Manupal had never even heard of some of the characters from Barry’s supporting cast that John was mentioning. It seems like he’s going about the book in the right way, though. Making it about moving forward instead of merely having the characters talk about moving forward as a direct message to the audience. I hope the Speed Force concept is fixed from the rather sloppy incarnation Johns left behind.